so anyway, i have been seeing these climbers and other outdoorsy people wearing those new vibram "foot gloves" for a while now and for some reason they really just give me the willies. i didn't really have a problem with it before but now one of my climbing partners started wearing them. at first he would just wear them on the approach but now he sometimes wears them on easy pitches too and it's just creepy as fuck. i don't know what my deal is or why i have such an aversion to them, maybe i should see a doctor lol. when he showed up wearing them for the first time i was all like "hey aquaman nice kicks" and he got all pissed so i didn't want to broach the subject again. but they really freak me out for some reason, maybe it's because the toes or something. he's a solid partner but i don't know if i can handle the foot gloves much longer.

so anyway, i have been seeing these climbers and other outdoorsy people wearing those new vibram "foot gloves" for a while now and for some reason they really just give me the willies. i didn't really have a problem with it before but now one of my climbing partners started wearing them. at first he would just wear them on the approach but now he sometimes wears them on easy pitches too and it's just creepy as fuck. i don't know what my deal is or why i have such an aversion to them, maybe i should see a doctor lol. when he showed up wearing them for the first time i was all like "hey aquaman nice kicks" and he got all pissed so i didn't want to broach the subject again. but they really freak me out for some reason, maybe it's because the toes or something. he's a solid partner but i don't know if i can handle the foot gloves much longer.

any one else have this problem?

edit: link to vibram in case you haven't seen foot gloves

People who wear them really seem to love them, even though they look ridiculous. Maybe that's testament to how awesome they are—SO AWESOME that you don't even care if you look like a douche bag? I'm not running out to buy any.

I also don't really mind if a climbing partner wants to wear them... as long they don't mind me making fun of them.

Don't get me wrong-- I agree with you. They look weird. And they develop the disgusting shoe funk smell as quickly as the climbing shoes. So I really don't see why someone would voluntarily wear them all day, day after day.

But if my partner decides that he wants to wear them... well, as long as they aren't putting their stinky shoes near me when I am trying to enjoy a snack, I don't really care.

I only personally know two people who wear them. One is a guy I don't care for much, anyway, so shoes are part of the package. The other one is a friend and a climbing partner, but after a short period of infatuation he seemed to stop wearing them, at least where I can see. Or maybe his dog ate them.

Everyone wears a uniform, even you. The fact that you don't realize this doesn't make it any less true. Once you accept this you can then deal with the fact that, regardless of your fashion choice, to some person, somewhere in the world you look equally stupid as your Vibram fivefinger-wearing friend.

Everyone wears a uniform, even you. The fact that you don't realize this doesn't make it any less true. Once you accept this you can then deal with the fact that, regardless of your fashion choice, to some person, somewhere in the world you look equally stupid as your Vibram fivefinger-wearing friend.

They are good for wearing around camp. They are light, comfy and let your feet breath. Short hikes are okay too (less than 3-4miles). They are also great water shoes, which was the original intention.

I once wore them on a 14 mile hike up Mount Marcy. Aside from looking like a dbag, every group we passed (which on that hike is well over 100) had to chat about them. "Oh, you've got the feet". "Oh, look, the gorilla feet, how do you like them?" "How are they? I want a pair." By the time, I got back to the car, I could barely walk.

The rubber is not nearly as sticky as a climbing shoe and having separate toes is not a benefit on a climb.

A big part of the reason you are seeing them is do to the bestseller "Born to Run". It's a great book, and worthwhile, regardless of whether or not you want to embrace the funky feet.

Once you get over your closet love affair with the 5-fingers, you'll be excited that Rock and Snow has them for 40-70% off. I would throw down the $30 for a pair if they weren't so damn disturbing to see on my feet.

it looks like they hacked off the lower third of a pink yeti's leg. sweet jesus.

but about the five-finger topic, i have a friend who has trouble running in regular running shoes and swears he can run longer with less pain in them. they may serve an orthopedic function, they look ridiculous and won't be making an appearance on my feet anytime in the near future.

I owned numerous pairs of Vibram Five fingers since 2008. I wear them for trail running, which is what they were made for. I like them far better than cross trainers. Ive seen a few yuppies wear them out in public, which I think looks ridiculous but they are great for running.

As an approach shoe I think theyre a better choice than all the flip flops and stuff I see people wearing on hikes.

I owned numerous pairs of Vibram Five fingers since 2008. I wear them for trail running, which is what they were made for. I like them far better than cross trainers. Ive seen a few yuppies wear them out in public, which I think looks ridiculous but they are great for running.

How well do they work on trails? I use mine only for running (and will never revert back to a more conventional running shoe), but can't imagine taking them trail running. Something about the separate toes misstepping on rocks freaks me out.

As an approach shoe I think theyre a better choice than all the flip flops and stuff I see people wearing on hikes.

Apparently those advocating them for approaches or hikes don't climb in areas where the plants are vicious and pointy and there is venomous fauna wanting to take a chunk out of your foot or ankle if you startle them.

People who wear them really seem to love them, even though they look ridiculous. Maybe that's testament to how awesome they are—SO AWESOME that you don't even care if you look like a douche bag? I'm not running out to buy any.

I also don't really mind if a climbing partner wants to wear them... as long they don't mind me making fun of them.

As an approach shoe I think theyre a better choice than all the flip flops and stuff I see people wearing on hikes.

It is a point of pride and principle for me to do as many approaches as possible in flipflops.

Me too. I have even lead "Died Laughing" (Cathedral Ledge 5.9 crack) in flip flops BITD. That must mean they are great climbing shoes right? Fully breathable, compact design, allows my toes to roam at will...

As an approach shoe I think theyre a better choice than all the flip flops and stuff I see people wearing on hikes.

It is a point of pride and principle for me to do as many approaches as possible in flipflops.

Me too. I have even lead "Died Laughing" (Cathedral Ledge 5.9 crack) in flip flops BITD. That must mean they are great climbing shoes right? Fully breathable, compact design, allows my toes to roam at will...

This image is appropriate here, even though it's so low-rez you can't see the flip flops clearly.

As an approach shoe I think theyre a better choice than all the flip flops and stuff I see people wearing on hikes.

It is a point of pride and principle for me to do as many approaches as possible in flipflops.

Me too. I have even lead "Died Laughing" (Cathedral Ledge 5.9 crack) in flip flops BITD. That must mean they are great climbing shoes right? Fully breathable, compact design, allows my toes to roam at will...

This image is appropriate here, even though it's so low-rez you can't see the flip flops clearly.